Terrence Howard Says He Will Play Marvin Gaye In Upcoming Movie

I had a very brief conversation (about 5 minutes) with Terrence Howard specifically about his latest film, the drama/thriller, Dead Man Down, in which he plays a crime boss, opposite Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace.

I’ll post a transcript of that short conversation later, after I transcribe it, but I thought I’d share one highlight of that interview which I think many of you will find interesting.

When I asked about upcoming projects, which was my final question, he listed several of them, one being aMarvin Gaye project.

Actually, it might be more than one, because what he actually said exactly was:

“I’m slated to play Marvin Gaye in a couple of films.”

I unfortunately couldn’t ask a follow-up question to that, so I can’t really speak to what those “couple of films” are.

What I can definitely tell you is that, based on available info, in early 2010, director Cameron Crowe revealed that he’d been working on a Marvin Gaye project for almost 4 years at the time. We covered this on the old S&A site.

Crowe said that Will Smith was initially offered the part, but declined after “much discussion” with Crowe and producer Scott Rudlin.

A month later, it was announced that Terrence Howard was going to star in Cameron Crowe’s Marvin Gaye film.

Reportedly, Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. was supportive of the project, and rights to Gaye’s music had been secured for the production.

For his part, Howard is a musician, and he said at the time that one of the influences on his debut album, Shine Through It, was Gaye. He added: “Nothing’s been signed on paper yet. Everybody who loves music will hate me if I get this one wrong.”

At least he realized/realizes what’s at stake.

It was earlier this week when it was announced that Jesse L. Martin will play Marvin Gaye in Julien Temple’s film, replacing Lenny Kravitz.

Depending on where the Gaye project (or projects) that Howard is attached to, stand, there could be multiple Marvin Gaye films on the horizon.

Or it could be that, in my chat with him, he was referring to Marvin Gaye projects that aren’t at all connected to Cameron Crowe’s film. Crowe may no longer be working on a Marvin Gaye film. Or it could be that Terrence will be playing Marvin Gaye in films in which Gaye is a character in someone else’s story.